CLASS OF 2023 | 2025 | FALL ISSUE

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Dear Class of 2023,

I’m so delighted to share with you all the lovely notes from our peers. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since we graduated. Whether you’ve moved to a new city, started grad school, or are still figuring out what post-Wes life looks like, it’s heartening to see that there are still threads connecting us all.

Briana Rodriguez-Castillowrites from Denver, where she’s been working as a substitute teacher and speech and debate coach. This summer she’s starting a dual master’s program in public health and social work at Columbia University, while her husband begins law school at the University of San Diego. Running all the way from high school, the two married shortly after graduation in a joyful celebration that also doubled as a mini-Wes reunion. Congratulations!

Quin Steinmetz is based in Chicago, taking classes part time to prepare for a biomedical visualization program at University of Illinois Chicago. In addition to being a caregiver for elderly and physically disabled patients, Quin has also recently adopted a “super cute but pesky” cat named Marshall, who always brings over his feather wand toy each night as a gift.

Justin Nguyen is soaking in the culture and charm of Baltimore. He’s been exploring the city’s diverse and walkable neighborhoods, visiting arts and historical sites, and sampling standout eats—his must-try list includes Ekiben, Charmery, and Cypriana. Reflecting on his time away from Wes, Justin writes: “I’ve grown to appreciate the moments we spend at this present stage of our life. I hope that here, and in the future, I’m working toward a better future—one that positively impacts everyone around me. Take care.”

Dr. Silkfingers Will See You Now, an original musical written and coproduced by Scarlett Long, premiered at the Summer 2025 One-Act Festival in New York City. The queer, time-bending musical follows “Charlotte,” a spiraling college student who escaped into a surreal Victorian clinic, where she was diagnosed with hysteria and treated by the enigmatic masc lesbian physician, Dr. Silkfingers. The production featured Wesleyan alums and current students in the cast and creative team, including April Schwartz ’24, Noah King ’25, Liang Liang ’26, Kiera Moran ’24, Emma Bella Bass-Lawrence ’24, and Orlando Osgood ’26. “It felt like a mini-Wes reunion every rehearsal,” Scarlett said. “The show wouldn’t have happened without this brilliant crew.”

A heartfelt reflection from Andrew Carroll, on behalf of the Rock Lobster Crew, a group of 20 alums from the Class of 2023 who recently reunited at Cape Cod: “When I first got the email about sending in a class note, I wasn’t sure I’d write anything. Nothing I could think of felt like an accurate reflection of what life has really been like two years postgraduation. But then the stars aligned [after the reunion].

“What I realized—maybe not even until I got home—is that every single one of us is in a completely different stage of life. Some of us love our jobs, some of us don’t, and some have even changed careers. Some are heading to med school, others are still in school—but all of us are just figuring it out as we go. Maybe that’s the whole point.

“What mattered most that weekend was that we made the time to be together. People traveled from all over the East Coast just for a few days, and once we were all in the same place, nothing else really mattered—just the joy of being in each other’s company, some cold drinks, and games on the beach.

“Everyone’s on their own path, but we can still carve out moments to reconnect—sharing stories about the ‘good old days’ and all the great things going on in our lives today. I think that’s the beauty of life.

“I can’t speak for everyone in the photo, and I’ll probably send this around and get a few laughs—some might even tell me not to submit it. But I’m willing to bet that 20 years from now, we’ll look at the photo (and maybe this note) and remember that weekend on the Cape. We’ll remember what it felt like to be young, uncertain about the future, and surrounded by the people who knew us before we had any idea what life after college would be like.”

At last, from me (Arthur Chen): Over the past year, I’ve worked on farms across Australia on working holiday, met people from all over the world, and, most recently, have been pursuing my culinary interests. I’m currently based in Melbourne, working at a super hip and delicious spot called Very Good Falafel, which really does live up to the name.

Like many of you have shared, it feels strange to realize it’s been two years since we graduated. Being away from those precious college days feels surreal and distant at times, but I also see how we’re growing into ourselves. Maybe we still don’t quite know what we’re doing, but we’ve come to appreciate the richness of experiencing so many different lifestyles and learning to embrace the unknown as part of the process of self-discovery.

Reading all your updates has been deeply meaningful. It reminds me that even though we’re scattered across the world—living different lives, chasing different dreams—we’re still connected in subtle but powerful ways. That’s the Wesleyan experience. It stays with us, even after we’ve moved on. Thank you to everyone who submitted an update—keep them coming!

ARTHUR CHEN | achen03@wesleyan.edu